Internet telephony system with automated call answering

ABSTRACT

A system and method for automatically answering a call from a calling party to a called party that originates via the Internet, includes and involves a data storage system and processor that is coupled to the data storage system. The processor is operative to initiate an automated call answering service in response to an Internet telephony call from the calling party which is intended to be received by the called party, to receive a message from the calling party via the Internet in accordance with the automated call answering service, and to store the message in the data storage system for processing by the processor in accordance with the automated call answering service.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/007,714 filed on Jan. 15, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,663,entitled “Internet Telephony System With Automated Call Answering”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates systems and methods used to provideInternet telephony services.

2. Description of the Related Art

Telephone answering devices and a variety of voice mail messagingsystems are well known. Such devices and systems allow callers to leavemessages for intended called parties when the called parties are notavailable, able, or desirous to receive calls. Each such device andsystem allows a party to later access the same to receive or re-routepreviously recorded messages from calling parties. In fact, suchautomated call answering devices and systems have become so commonplace,that many people now consider them to be staple technologies of everydaylife. For example, it is quite common for a person to have more than oneautomated call answering system to receive a variety of incoming calls.A home telephone answering machine, a voice mailbox associated with awork telephone number, and a voice mailbox associated with a cellular orother telephone number are typical messaging systems used within modernsociety. Additionally, while automated call answering devices andsystems are widely deployed by telephone service subscribers, callingparties also have come to expect that the people they call will maintainsome sort of automated call answering or messaging device or system sothat the calling party can leave important information without having tospeak to a live operator who may erroneously record a particularmessage.

With the recent acceptance and widespread use of the Internet, manycompanies have begun to operate Internet-based telephony systems andservices. As such systems and services are very new, they are not yet asrich in features as conventional telephony systems. In particular,although Internet telephony systems allow calling parties to access atelephony site via the world wide web (WWW), request completion of anInternet call to another Internet user, and carry on an Internet-basedvoice communication session when the other Internet user is online, suchsystems do not offer features and services such as automated callanswering and messaging.

In the case of the typical Internet telephony service, a calling party(i.e., a Internet user) accesses an Internet telephony web site,registers with that site, and peruses an online directory of potentialcalled parties (i.e., other Internet users) that happen to be currentlyregistered and connected to the web site. The calling party can onlymake calls (communicated via the Internet) to called parties that areactually online and ready, willing, an able to receive calls. There isno way for the calling party to leave a voicemail or other type ofmessage (video message, etc.) for a particular called party if thatcalled party happens to not be connected to the internet telephony website. As such, calling parties are forced to play a hit or miss game interms of actually contacting intended called parties online via anInternet telephony service.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide systems and methods thatwill allow Internet calling parties to leave recorded messages (e.g.,voicemail type messages, videophone messages, etc.) for particularintended called parties who may not be available, able, or desirous toreceive calls online. To be viable, such systems and methods mustseamlessly work with existing Internet telephony systems to allowInternet calling parties to leave voicemail and, possibly, other typesof messages for intended called parties who may later receive the samevia the Internet or otherwise (e.g., via a conventional telephony link).Moreover, such systems and methods must allow calling and called partiesto realize levels of functionality that they have heretofore come toexpect from automated call answering and messaging systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing comments related to the related art, it is theprincipal object of the present invention to solve the aforementioned byproviding a system and corresponding processes that allow automated callanswering and messaging services to be provided to Internet telephonyusers in response to Internet telephony calls.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system andcorresponding processes that will allow voicemail services to beprovided in the context of internet telephony calls.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a systemand corresponding processes which will allow multi-media messagesincluding voice data, video data and other data to be recorded duringthe context of an Internet telephony call and which may be retrieved viathe Internet or otherwise (e.g., via a conventional telephony link,etc.).

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a systemand corresponding processes that will allow pager notification calls tobe initiated which are intended to be received by paging devicescontrolled by called parties and which may notify such called partiesthat messages have been recorded in accordance with an automatedInternet-based call answering or messaging service.

By achieving the aforementioned objects, the present invention providescertain benefits. For example, Internet telephony service providers willbe able to offer enriched Internet telephony services which includevoicemail and other automated call answering services which conventionaltelephony users have come to expect and enjoy. Internet users and, inparticular, Internet telephony users will be able to receive the benefitof automated call answering and messaging services such as voicemailservices when Internet telephony calls are not accepted or completed forany reason. In essence, the present invention combines the benefits ofconventional automated call answering services with the benefitsassociated with Internet-based communications.

The present invention achieves the aforementioned objects to deliver theabove-stated and other benefits by providing a system for automaticallyanswering a call from a calling party to a called party that originatesvia the Internet. The system includes a data storage system and aprocessor that is coupled to the data storage system. The processor isoperative to receive, during the call, a message from the calling partyvia the Internet, and to store the message in the data storage systemfor retrieval by the called party via the Internet.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system forautomatically answering a call from a calling party to a called partythat originates via the Internet is provided. The system includes a datastorage system and a processor. The processor is operative to initiatean automated call answering service in response to an Internet telephonycall from the calling party which is intended to be received by thecalled party to receive a message from the calling party via theInternet during the call answering service, and to store the message inthe data storage system for processing by the processor in accordancewith the automated call answering service.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forautomatically answering a call from a calling party to a called partythat originates via the Internet is provided. The method includes thesteps of receiving a message from the calling party via the Internet,storing the message for retrieval by the called party, and deliveringthe message to the called party via the Internet.

According to a final aspect of the present invention, a method forautomatically answering a call from a calling party that is intended tobe received by a called party that originates via the Internet isprovided. The method includes the steps of initiating an automated callanswering service in response to an Internet telephony call from thecalling party, receiving a message from the calling party via theInternet in accordance with the automated call answering service, andstoring the message in accordance with the automated call answeringservice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to thefollowing drawing figures, of which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system in which automated call answering andmessaging services are provided to Internet telephony users according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an automatic data processing system that isconfigured as a voice and video server as depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an automatic data processing system that isoperated by the calling party depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flow-chart that illustrates the operations carried outwithin the system depicted in FIG. 1 to provide automated call answeringand messaging services to Internet telephony users; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart that illustrates the operations carried out withinthe system depicted in FIG. 1 to deliver pre-recorded messages via theInternet to a subscriber of an automated call answering serviceaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is now described in detail with regard to thedrawing figures that were briefly described above. A SYSTEM DESCRIPTIONsection in which the structures comprising the present invention areillustrated and explained, is followed by a corresponding SYSTEMOPERATION section in which the operations of the aforementionedstructures are described. Unless otherwise indicated, like parts andprocesses are referred to with like reference numerals.

System Description

The structures comprising the present invention are now described withregard to FIGS. 1-3.

Referring now to FIG. 1, depicted therein is a diagram of a system inwhich automated call answering and messaging services are provided toInternet telephony users according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. In particular, system 100 is arranged to illustratean exemplary arrangement of components and subsystems. Accordingly,system 100 includes an Internet calling party (ICP) 102 (who operates apersonal automatic multi-media data processing like the one shown inFIG. 3 and discussed below), an Internet Called Party 103 (like ICP102), an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 104, a proprietary network 106which may be operated by a telecommunications company, an InternetTelephony Server (ITS) 108, the Internet 110, an ISP 112, a voice andvideo server 114, and a voice and video server 116.

ITS 108 includes one or more processor(s) (not shown) and a data storagesubsystem or memory device (not shown). ITS 108 is configured as aserver computer or automatic data processing system like or similar to aSPARC 1000 computing system which is manufactured and marketed by SUNMICROSYSTEMS, INC. Moreover, ITS 108 is configured to execute and runappropriate WWW server and database management software that will enablethe provisioning of directory assistance information in response tocorresponding requests for the same from users which are received via anetwork such as via the Internet and WWW and the provisioning ofInternet or packet-based network telephony services to such users.Preferably, ITS 108 is configured to execute and run appropriate WWWserver and database management software to provide directory assistanceand Internet telephony functionality similar or like that found at theFour11™ WWW site (http://www.four11.com). Additionally, ITS 108 isconfigured to pass and receive digital data streams to and from voiceand video server 116, respectively. Such digital streams can includevoice, video, data, and other multi-media message data.

The structure of voice and video server 114 and of voice and videoserver 116 are further illustrated in FIG. 2. Although, only two voiceand video servers are illustrated in system 100, the present inventionis not so limited. To the contrary, any number of voice and videoservers may be deployed depending on marketing needs, system needs, anda host of other factors that will be readily understood by those skilledin the art.

In system 100, the aforementioned component parts and subsystems thereofare coupled to each other as shown in conventional manners which will bereadily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Forexample, a dial-up connection between a system operated by ICP 102 andhis ISP 104 will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.Also, the coupling of ITS 108 to the Internet 110 will be readilyunderstood to be a high-speed telecommunications protocol link.Additionally, those skilled in the art will immediately recognize thatthe component parts and subsystems comprising system 100 may be locatedin a multitude of geographic locations and that there is no absoluterequirement that any particular component or subsystem be located in anyparticular geographic location.

It should be noted that although ICP 102 and Internet Called Party 103are shown as being coupled to the Internet via a dial-up connection toan Internet service provider, there is no such requirement. In fact, ICP102 and Internet Called Party 103 could be configured to access Internet110 and ITS 108 from any type of network connection that provides accessto the Internet. Moreover, although ITS 108 is shown as being coupled toand accessible from the Internet 110, such an arrangement is merelyexemplary and is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.To the contrary, the present invention certainly contemplates anarrangement wherein ITS 108 may be integrated into an intranet or othernetwork system/environment such as one wherein a private companymaintains an network that supports internal network telephony (likeInternet telephony, but within a private or limited access network). Insuch a case, ICP 102 and Internet Called Party 103 would likely be userswithin a firewall protected environment (e.g., within a company networkenvironment) or those users that could possibly gain access to a privateIntranet telephony server by first accessing an Internet site and thengaining access to a protected network environment operated by thecompany with which they are associated. It should be understood thatusers within a firewall would be able to go directly to an Intranetserver without first having to access the Internet.

Referring now to FIG. 2, depicted therein is a block diagram of anautomatic data processing system that is configured as voice and videoserver 116 (and 114) as depicted in FIG. 1. In particular, voice andvideo server 116 is an automatic processing system that includes one ormore processors 202 and a data storage subsystem or memory 204. Like ITS108, as described above, voice and video server 116 is configured as aserver computer or automatic data processing system like or similar to aSPARC computing system (e.g., SPARC 20 or SPARC 1000) which ismanufactured and marketed by SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. Additionally, voiceand video server 116 is configured with input and output facilities toallow it to bi-directionally communicate (e.g., via a networkconnection, etc.) with ITS 108. Accordingly, messages such as voice,video and other multi-media messages that are received from a callingparty via the Internet (e.g., from ICP 102) by ITS 108 can be sent toand processed by processor 202 and, ultimately, stored by processor 202in data storage subsystem 204 for retrieval by Internet users such asInternet Called Party 103 via the Internet or otherwise (e.g., system100 and voice & video server 114 could be configured to allow aconventional telephony dial-in connection to proprietary network 106 toaccess stored messages on voice and video server 114 and to retrieve thesame via a conventional voice line and, possibly, via the publiclyswitched telephone network or via some other telephony network).

Referring now to FIG. 3, depicted therein is a block diagram of anautomatic data processing system that may be operated either by ICP 102or Internet Called Party 103 as depicted in FIG. 1. In particular,automatic data processing system 300 includes a processor 302 that iscoupled to a data storage subsystem or memory device 304, and to a setof multi-media input/output devices 306 (e.g., a microphone, a compactdisc drive, a set of speakers, a color printer, a scanner, etc.).Automatic data processing system 300 is a personal computing device likeor similar in function to an IBM compatible computing system that isequipped with a PENTIUM® II microprocessor and related components andwhich is configured to execute and run a web browser client softwarepackage like or similar in function to the NETSCAPE® COMMUNICATOR™browser suite which is manufactured and marketed by NETSCAPECOMMUNICATIONS CORP. Additionally, automatic data processing system 300is configured to operate in accordance with Internet telephony clientsoftware (possibly a browser plug-in or other similar or functionallyequivalent piece of computer software) to enable Internet telephony inaccordance with, among others, the H.323 Internet CommunicationsStandard. Suitable software would be the RealAudio audio player incombination a suitable web browser client (e.g., INTERNET EXPLORER3.0+). Additionally, such software would include internet telephonycapability like that available from INTEL CORPORATION(“http://www.intel.com”). Subscription to a free service like Four11 viathe web is preferred.

In addition to the structure shown in FIG. 3, automatic data processingsystem 128 is equipped with communications components such as a modem, anetwork interface card, or other network interface device that enablesautomatic data processing system 300 to communicate with ITS 108(FIG. 1) via the Internet 110 and WWW (e.g., via ISP 104). The structureand implementation of such devices will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art.

System Operation

The structures described above in regard to FIGS. 1-3 are configured tooperate together to provide automated call answering and messagingservices to Internet users. The requisite and salient operations tobring about such functionality and services are illustrated in FIGS. 4and 5. More particularly, the operations depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 are,in many respects, intended to be carried out via computer software. Suchcomputer software and, in particular, the programming constructsnecessary to bring about such operations will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art after reviewing and understanding the detailedoperations illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Accordingly, in regard to FIG. 4, depicted therein is a flow-chart thatillustrates the operations carried out within the system depicted inFIG. 1 to provide automated call answering and messaging services toInternet telephony users. In particular, processing starts at Step S4-1and immediately proceeds to Step S4-2. At Step S4-2, ICP 102 points hisbrowser software to an Internet telephony web site associated with ITS108. Such action will be immediately understood by those skilled in theart.

Next, at Step S4-3, a determination will be made at ITS 108 as towhether ICP 102 is registered to engage in Internet telephony (i.e., ishe a registered user of an Internet telephony service associated withITS 108?). If not, processing proceeds to Step S4-4 where ICP 102 willbe given the opportunity to become a registered user of the Internettelephony services offered by and associated with ITS 108. Such actionlikely will include the use of web-based HTML forms implemented withappropriate CGI scripts to retrieve input from ICP 102 via the Internet.

If, at Step S4-3, the determination was affirmative, processing proceedsto Step S4-5, where ICP 102 may receive a confirmation of hisregistration or access to a web site associated with ITS 108. Forexample, a welcome screen (e.g., an appropriate HTML document) may beconfigured to welcome ICP 102 to the web site associated with ITS 108.

In any case, processing proceeds to Step S4-6, where ITS 108 willpresent ICP 102 with a query form (e.g., a CGI script enabled HTML form)to request ICP 102 to enter information related to a particular,intended called party (e.g., name, network screen name, etc.) so thatICP can place an Internet telephony call. Upon receiving ICP 102'sentries via the Internet, ITS 108 will perform an appropriate databasequery to locate the particular, intended called party (e.g., astructured query language query within a relational database managementsystem based on the form data entries of ICP 102).

Next, at Step S4-7, ITS 108 will determine if the particular, intendedcalled party (Internet Called Party 103, for purposes of discussion) iscurrently online by determining if Internet Called Party 103 iscurrently engaged in an Internet telephony session with ITS 108. Suchprocessing will be readily understood by those skilled in the art andmay include a database search and the like related to active onlinecallers. The negative path from Step S4-7 is discussed below after adiscussion of the processing at Step S4-9. If Internet Called Party 103is online, proceeds to Step S4-8 where ITS 108 will attempt to place andallow an Internet telephony call session to be initiated and processedbetween ICP 102 and Internet Called Party 103 in a conventional Internettelephony way.

Next, at Step S4-9, a determination will be made as to whether InternetCalled Party 103 accepted the call from ICP 102. If Internet CalledParty 103 did accept the Internet telephony call from ICP 102,processing proceeds to Step S4-10 where the call will be processed,until termination, in a conventional Internet telephony way. Ultimately,after call termination, the Internet telephony session is terminated andprocessing ends at Step S4-15. Of course, processing could be directedto Step S4-6 to allow ICP 102 to engage in another Internet telephonysession at a web site associated with ITS 108. Such loop-back typeprocessing will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

If, at Step S4-9, the determination was negative, processing proceeds toStep S4-7 which was discussed above. The aforementioned commentsconcerned the positive path leading from Step S4-7. The negative path isnow described. In particular, processing proceeds to Step S4-12 where adetermination will be made as to whether an automated call answeringand/or messaging service is associated with Internet Called Party 103.If not, processing proceeds to Step S4-11 where ICP 102 will be informedthat Internet Called Party 103 does not have an automated call answeringand/or messaging service (e.g., Internet-based voicemail, Internetcall-forwarding, Internet call-pager notification, or any other type ofautomated call answering service). Thereafter, processing proceeds toStep S4-14 where ITS 108 will terminate the Internet telephony callsession attempt. And, ultimately processing ends at Step S4-15.

If at Step S4-12, the determination was affirmative, processing proceedsto Step S4-13, where a message from ICP 102 intended for Internet CalledParty 103 will be recorded by a voice and video server associated withITS 108 (e.g., voice and video server 116). Such a message may take theform of a digital stream containing any sequence of digital data.According to the present invention, such digital data may berepresentative of multi-media information such as voice data, videodata, sound data, intended printer data, fax data, or any other contentthat can be digitally recorded. As such, the present invention providesa complete system and corresponding method for providing an Internettelephony voice mail system. The recording of voicemail data in adigital format will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Next, processing proceeds to Step S4-14 which was discussed in detailabove

Processing ends at Step S4-15.

In regard to FIG. 5, depicted therein is a flow-chart that illustratesthe operations carried out within the system depicted in FIG. 1 todeliver pre-recorded messages via the Internet to a subscriber of anautomated call answering service according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. In particular, processing starts at Step S5-1 andimmediately proceeds to Step S5-2

At Step S5-2, a subscriber such as Internet Called Party 103 points hisbrowser software to an Internet telephony web site associated with ITS108.

Next, at Step S5-3, Internet Called Party 103 registers with ITS 103(e.g., logs on and receives an Internet cookie from ITS 108). Cookieswill be readily understood by those skilled in the art to allow thecreation of virtual sessions in a stateless environment like theInternet.

Thereafter, at Step S5-4, ITS 108 checks for previously recordedmessages for Internet Called Party. And, at Step S5-5, a correspondingdetermination will be made. If the determination is affirmative,processing proceeds to Step S5-6 where ITS 108 will send any previouslyrecorded messages to Internet Called Party 103 via the Internet formanifestation by a multi-media automatic data processing systemmaintained by Internet Called Party 103 (e.g., a system like the oneillustrated in FIG. 3 as discussed above). Accordingly, if a previouslyrecorded message stored by ITS 108 and voice and video server 116 is avoicemail message, the same can be sent to Internet Called Party 103 formanifestation by his system's sound device and speakers. If a messagecontains video clips, the same can be manifested by a video controllerand video display combination maintained by internet Called party 103.

It should be understood that pre-recorded messages may be sent toInternet Called Party in real-time (e.g., as streams of data that aremanifested by appropriate multi-media components as they are beingreceived) or in file form (e.g., as “.wav” files containing sound bitesthat will be manifested in accordance with appropriate player software,etc.). If files are to be delivered to Internet Called Party 103, thesame may be sent as electronic mail or attachments to electronic mail.In any case, the present invention is not to be limited by anyparticular method or format of message delivery.

After all messages are delivered to Internet Called Party 103,processing proceeds to Step S5-7, where the Internet telephony messagereception session will be terminated by ITS 108. Ultimately, processingends at Step S5-8.

If the determination made at Step S5-5, was negative, processingproceeds to Step S5-7 as discussed above.

Processing ends at Step S5-8.

In the process depicted in FIG. 5, reception of previously recordedmessages via the Internet was illustrated. It should be understood thatthe present invention could be configured to allow a called party toaccess his Internet-based recorded messages via another telephonynetwork (e.g., via a dial-in connection to voice and video server 116via the publicly switched telephone network or via some other networksuch as a telephony system maintained within a private organization).Accordingly, there is no absolute requirement that messages recorded viathe Internet must be provided or delivered to called parties via theInternet. Such dial-in operations are based on the structure shown inFIG. 1 and, in particular, the fact that a proprietary network may beaccessed ultimately to access a voice and video server such as voice andvideo server 116 or 114.

It should also be noted that the present invention contemplates pagernotification relative to recorded messages. For example, after a messageis recorded via the Internet, a pager notification may be sent tointernet Called Party 103's pager device or other type of wirelessreceiver (which he controls) notifying him that messages have beenrecorded via that Internet. The nature and type of the message may becommunicated to Internet Called Party 103's pager. For example,depending on Internet Called Party 103's pager capabilities (numeric,display, etc.), a numeric message may be sent indicating the presence ofInternet voicemail, or a text message containing a notice thatpre-recorded Internet voicemail has been stored at a particular web sitelocation (e.g., at a particular web site uniform resource locator(URL)). The initiation of pager notification calls and, especially,pager notification calls that may be initiated, placed, and completed bytelephony networks (e.g., intelligent services networks) coupled toInternet telephony systems will be readily understood by those skilledin the art.

Thus, having fully described the present invention by way of examplewith reference to the attached drawing figures, it will be readilyappreciated that many changes and modifications may be made to theinvention and to any of the exemplary embodiments shown and/or describedherein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

1. A method of providing telephony services over an Internet Protocol(IP) network, comprising: providing a web site for enabling a callingparty to initiate a voice call to a called party over the IP network;receiving a request from the web site by the calling party to initiate avoice call to the called party over the IP network; determining whetherthe voice call initiated by the calling party is accepted by the calledparty; if the voice call initiated by the calling party is not acceptedby the called party, then performing the steps of: receiving a messagefrom the calling party via the web site; and transmitting the message toa data storage system for storing the message for retrieval by thecalled party.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the messageincludes a voicemail message.
 3. The method according to claim 1,wherein the message includes a video message.
 4. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the message contains multi-media information.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising: initiating a pagernotification call to a pager device operated by the called party, saidpager notification call for notifying the called party that the messagehas been stored and is available for delivery via the IP network.
 6. Themethod according to claim 5, wherein said pager notification callincludes an indication of a web site uniform resource locator (URL) forretrieving the message.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein saiddetermining whether the voice call initiated by the calling party isaccepted by the called party includes: determining whether the calledparty is online; and if the called party is online, determining whetherthe called party accepts the voice call initiated by the calling party.8. A telephony system for providing telephony services over an InternetProtocol (IP) network, comprising: a server for providing a web site forenabling a calling party to initiate a voice call to a called party overthe IP network and receiving a request from the web site by the callingparty to initiate a voice call to the called party over the IP network;and a processor configured for receiving a message from the callingparty via the web site if the voice call initiated by the calling partyis not accepted by the called party and transmitting the message to adata storage system for storing the message for retrieval by the calledparty.
 9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the message includesa voicemail message.
 10. The system according to claim 8, wherein themessage includes a video message.
 11. The system according to claim 8,wherein the message contains multi-media information.
 12. The systemaccording to claim 8, further comprising: means for initiating a pagernotification call to a pager device operated by the called party, saidpager notification call for notifying the called party that the messagehas been stored and is available for delivery via the IP network. 13.The method according to claim 12, wherein said pager notification callincludes an indication of a web site uniform resource locator (URL) forretrieving the message.
 14. The system according to claim 8, wherein theprocessor is further configured for determining whether the called partyis online and, if the called party is online, determining whether thecalled party accepts the voice call initiated by the calling party. 15.A method of providing telephony services over an Internet Protocol (IP)network, comprising: providing a web site for enabling telephonyservices over the IP network to at least a calling party and a calledparty; receiving a request from the web site by the calling party toinitiate a voice call to the called party over the IP network;determining whether the voice call initiated by the calling party isaccepted by the called party; if the voice call initiated by the callingparty is not accepted by the called party, then performing the steps of:receiving a message from the calling party via the web site; andtransmitting the message to a data storage system for storing themessage for retrieval by the called party; receiving a request from theweb site by the called party to retrieve a message from the callingparty; fetching the message from a data storage system storing themessage for retrieval by the called party; and transmitting the messageto the called party over the Internet Protocol network.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 15, wherein the message includes a voicemail message.17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the message includes avideo message.
 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the messagecontains multi-media information.
 19. The method according to claim 15,further comprising: initiating a pager notification call to a pagerdevice operated by the called party, said pager notification call fornotifying the called party that the message has been stored and isavailable for delivery via the IP network.
 20. The method according toclaim 19, wherein said pager notification call includes an indication ofa web site uniform resource locator (URL) for retrieving the message.21. The method according to claim 15, wherein said determining whetherthe voice call initiated by the calling party is accepted by the calledparty includes: determining whether the called party is online; and ifthe called party is online, determining whether the called party acceptsthe voice call initiated by the calling party.
 22. The method accordingto claim 15, further comprising: registering the called party via theweb site.
 23. A telephony system for providing telephony services overan Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising: a server for: providing aweb site for enabling telephony services over the IP network to at leasta calling party and a called party, receiving a request from the website by the calling party to initiate a voice call to the called partyover the IP network, and receiving a request from the web site by thecalled party to retrieve a message from the calling party; and aprocessor configured for: receiving a message from the calling party viathe web site if the voice call initiated by the calling party is notaccepted by the called party, transmitting the message to a data storagesystem for storing the message for retrieval by the called party,fetching the message from a data storage system storing the message forretrieval by the called party, and transmitting the message to thecalled party over the Internet Protocol network.
 24. The systemaccording to claim 23, wherein the message includes a voicemail message.25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the message includes avideo message.
 26. The system according to claim 23, wherein the messagecontains multi-media information.
 27. The system according to claim 23,further comprising: means for initiating a pager notification call to apager device operated by the called party, said pager notification callfor notifying the called party that the message has been stored and isavailable for delivery via the IP network.
 28. The method according toclaim 27, wherein said pager notification call includes an indication ofa web site uniform resource locator (URL) for retrieving the message.29. The system according to claim 23, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured for determining whether the called party is online and, ifthe called party is online, determining whether the called party acceptsthe voice call initiated by the calling party.